EDITOR'S OPINION

Learning right from left from wrong

Published: Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 12:20 a.m.

I usually refrain from politics on my personal Facebook page, but I posted a quote the other day that I think is profound.

“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.”

Richard Armour, a poet, English professor and syndicated newspaper columnist who published more than 50 books before his death in 1989, penned that line.

It struck a chord with me amid one of the most bitter, divisive and partisan presidential elections in my lifetime.

When I became old enough to vote, most of the people I knew seemed willing, at least some of the time, to cross party lines and vote for the candidate they thought had the best record, platform or potential for doing good things for his or her community. Some of that attitude remains, but much of the discussion I hear now mimics the talking points disseminated by national political operatives or the hyperbole spewed by the talking heads and pundits on national TV.

For better or worse, a place that was much more apt to elect a candidate based on his record of service, platform and personality has become much more partisan. Our spirit of compromise is often overwhelmed by a “you're-either-with us-or-against-us” attitude, especially when it comes to state and national politics.

For some of my friends and acquaintances, it's inconceivable that a Republican would cross the aisle to join with a Democrat, or vice versa, to compromise on almost anything. They're more likely to label such a politician a sellout than a statesman, regardless of the good their efforts might accomplish.

Oddly, the same constituents who demand such fidelity to principle complain about the gridlock that has made it difficult or impossible for Congress and the president to address some of the nation's most pressing issues. And those same constituents are rarely willing to accept any culpability for the paralysis themselves.

I'm part of the fastest-growing political persuasion in America: the independent voter. I've never been a member of any political party, and I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and independents. I still think it's possible, even desirable, for candidates in any party to have a good idea. Or a bad idea. Or no ideas at all.

I'm not saying that's the best policy; but it's my policy. It gives me at least some sense that I am thinking critically or acting independently, but it's not always fun. Nowadays, if I suggest an idea that fails to fit neatly into the conservative dogma, I'm likely to be labeled a liberal. Or vice versa. The conversation might go something like this:

Me: “Hey, I really think if we are going to get out of this financial mess, the federal government is going to have to cut services and raise taxes.”

Friend: “Raise taxes? You must be some kind of socialist. You're just a liberal.”

Some people in my life use the “L” word to vilify in the same way a schoolyard punk might utter, “Your mamma.” “There, it's settled, you idiot. I win, you lose, period, end of story.”

Some of my liberal friends have their own vocabulary of disagreement. Someone who questions the fairness of taxing the pants off the rich might be stereotyped as putting the wants of the greedy above the needs of the poor. Or someone with legitimate questions about whether one social welfare program or another is worthwhile might get labeled a racist for even asking.

I'm not naive enough to expect us to all just get along. And I know politics has always had its nasty side — or sides.

But in my mind, these simplistic ways of thinking do more harm than good. They divide rather than unite. Sure, everyone has a right, and in some cases a duty, to stand up for his or her beliefs. But what's wrong with respect and civility? What's wrong with, as Richard Armour the poet suggests, putting right or wrong ahead of right or left?

Courier and Daily Comet Executive Editor Keith Magill can be reached at 857-2201 or keith.magill@houmatoday.com.

<p>I usually refrain from politics on my personal Facebook page, but I posted a quote the other day that I think is profound.</p><p>“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.”</p><p>Richard Armour, a poet, English professor and syndicated newspaper columnist who published more than 50 books before his death in 1989, penned that line.</p><p>It struck a chord with me amid one of the most bitter, divisive and partisan presidential elections in my lifetime.</p><p>When I became old enough to vote, most of the people I knew seemed willing, at least some of the time, to cross party lines and vote for the candidate they thought had the best record, platform or potential for doing good things for his or her community. Some of that attitude remains, but much of the discussion I hear now mimics the talking points disseminated by national political operatives or the hyperbole spewed by the talking heads and pundits on national TV.</p><p>For better or worse, a place that was much more apt to elect a candidate based on his record of service, platform and personality has become much more partisan. Our spirit of compromise is often overwhelmed by a “you're-either-with us-or-against-us” attitude, especially when it comes to state and national politics.</p><p>For some of my friends and acquaintances, it's inconceivable that a Republican would cross the aisle to join with a Democrat, or vice versa, to compromise on almost anything. They're more likely to label such a politician a sellout than a statesman, regardless of the good their efforts might accomplish.</p><p>Oddly, the same constituents who demand such fidelity to principle complain about the gridlock that has made it difficult or impossible for Congress and the president to address some of the nation's most pressing issues. And those same constituents are rarely willing to accept any culpability for the paralysis themselves.</p><p>I'm part of the fastest-growing political persuasion in America: the independent voter. I've never been a member of any political party, and I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and independents. I still think it's possible, even desirable, for candidates in any party to have a good idea. Or a bad idea. Or no ideas at all.</p><p>I'm not saying that's the best policy; but it's my policy. It gives me at least some sense that I am thinking critically or acting independently, but it's not always fun. Nowadays, if I suggest an idea that fails to fit neatly into the conservative dogma, I'm likely to be labeled a liberal. Or vice versa. The conversation might go something like this:</p><p>Me: “Hey, I really think if we are going to get out of this financial mess, the federal government is going to have to cut services and raise taxes.”</p><p>Friend: “Raise taxes? You must be some kind of socialist. You're just a liberal.”</p><p>Some people in my life use the “L” word to vilify in the same way a schoolyard punk might utter, “Your mamma.” “There, it's settled, you idiot. I win, you lose, period, end of story.”</p><p>Some of my liberal friends have their own vocabulary of disagreement. Someone who questions the fairness of taxing the pants off the rich might be stereotyped as putting the wants of the greedy above the needs of the poor. Or someone with legitimate questions about whether one social welfare program or another is worthwhile might get labeled a racist for even asking.</p><p>I'm not naive enough to expect us to all just get along. And I know politics has always had its nasty side — or sides.</p><p>But in my mind, these simplistic ways of thinking do more harm than good. They divide rather than unite. Sure, everyone has a right, and in some cases a duty, to stand up for his or her beliefs. But what's wrong with respect and civility? What's wrong with, as Richard Armour the poet suggests, putting right or wrong ahead of right or left?</p><p>Courier and Daily Comet Executive Editor Keith Magill can be reached at 857-2201 or keith.magill@houmatoday.com.</p>